One of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest offshore keel-boat regattas, Hamilton Island Race Week, will return for its 36th edition from August 17-24. Qualia has released a small number of three-night Race Week packages, allowing guests to experience the ultimate in Australian luxury. All Qualia packages include access to one of Qualia’s Race Week events, including the Showcase dinner, The Heidsieck Champagne Lunch and the Paspaley White Luncheon. Guests on the packages will have the opportunity to see the on-water action up close on board luxury superyacht, Quantum, which will travel from Sydney especially for the event to host daily spectator cruises. Qualia’s Hamilton Island Race Week packages start from $5990. Visit www.qualia.com.au. Stay at Sydney’s Metro Mirage Hotel Newport for from $199 per room per night and receive a free adult ticket for the official Home and Away tour to Summer Bay. Operated by Flamin’ Galah Sydney Tours, this tour to Palm Beach visits the stunning location of the Home and Away set, offering an insightful and authentic brand experience. Fans will be able to capture once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities, while expert guides share their Home and Away knowledge. The tour runs every day except Thursdays and Sundays and departs from Dearin Reserve bus stop, about 100 metres north of the hotel. It concludes at Manly Beach. The package also includes free wi-fi and guaranteed 11am check-out for web bookings. Booking requires a minimum 10-day advance purchase and additional tour tickets can be purchased. Visit www.metrohotels.com.au. Tiny Away continues to expand its range of small holiday houses in Australia, offering city dwellers a chance to escape from a hectic, digitally-laden lifestyle. It now has 12 houses placed across Victoria and has just added eight houses throughout NSW, including in the Hawkesbury, and at Braidwood and Picton. The tiny-house concept embraces sustainable living by reducing the size and therefore the resource consumption, of homes without sacrificing quality of life. The Tiny Away houses can sleep up to four people and include a convertible double sofa bed in the lounge area, a queen-size loft bed in the bedroom area, a kitchenette with toaster, kettle and induction cooktop, minimalist sliding table top which serves as a dining space, and a bathroom with a composting toilet and hot shower. There is an air-conditioner and heater, as well as an outdoor deck providing additional space for relaxation. The six-metre house is built and mounted on a trailer, allowing it to be moved from property to property, any time. The cost is $150-$250 per night. Visit www.tinyaway.com. Take in the wonders of Asia and the Middle East and then cruise through to Europe with MSC on a 51-night fly/stay/cruise package from Cruise1st. Fly from Australia in February next year to Shanghai for two nights of accommodation and time to explore a fascinating city. Then embark on MSC’s Splendida for a 44-night cruise from to Italy, taking in highlights that include Okinawa, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket, Colombo, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the Suez Canal, Rhodes and Rome, before disembarking in Genoa for a one-night stay and catching a first-class train to Milan. Three nights in Milan will give travellers a chance to explore this fashion, design, shopping and financial centre in Italy’s northern Lombardy region before catching a return flight to Australia. Prices are from $6299 per person twin-share. Phone 1300 596 345 or visit www.cruise1st.com.au. One of the world’s most luxurious residences at sea will be perched on the deck 14 of the Seven Seas Splendor, above the bridge and overlooking the ship’s bow, when it sets sail in February next year. Claimed to be the largest suite ever constructed on a luxury cruise ship, the Regent Suite offers 412 total square-metres of palatial elegance at sea, complete with an in-suite spa retreat featuring a personal sauna, steam room and treatment area with unlimited spa treatments, unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow from the 120 square-metre wrap-around veranda, and a glass-enclosed solarium on top of the bridge with a captain’s view of the world’s most beautiful destinations. Guests in the Regent Suite also enjoy a dedicated personal butler, a personal car with driver and guide in every port, and the exquisite comfort of a custom, hand-crafted bed. And I’m sure that you’ll pay plenty for the pleasure. Captain Cook Cruises Fiji have added a second daily departure for its Tivua Island day cruise and from April 1 the seven-hour adventure will depart Denarau Marina at 11.30am as well as 10am. The 11.30am sailing offers the same inclusions as the 10am departure, including a tropical buffet lunch, all activities and the option to go diving or have a spa treatment. Both Tivua Island day cruises are seven hours long and the same price —$153 for adults and $89 for children (3-15 years). The Tivua Island experience begins the moment the magnificent tall ship Ra Marama or luxurious sleek sailing catamaran Fiji One set sail from Denarau for the tiny island of Tivua — an atoll surrounded by a circle of white sandy beach and 500 acres of coral gardens. On arrival at Tivua guests take part in a traditional welcoming Kava ceremony and then spend the day doing a range of water and land activities or simply relaxing on the beach. Visit www.captaincookcruisesfiji.com.

Do you need some travel inspiration?

Regatta watching

One of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest offshore keel-boat regattas, Hamilton Island Race Week, will return for its 36th edition from August 17-24.

Qualia has released a small number of three-night Race Week packages, allowing guests to experience the ultimate in Australian luxury.

All Qualia packages include access to one of Qualia’s Race Week events, including the Showcase dinner, The Heidsieck Champagne Lunch and the Paspaley White Luncheon.

Guests on the packages will have the opportunity to see the on-water action up close on board luxury superyacht, Quantum, which will travel from Sydney especially for the event to host daily spectator cruises.

Itsy-bitsy

SMALL ESCAPE: One of Tiny Away’s small holiday houses … a chance to escape from a hectic, digitally-laden lifestyle.

Tiny Away continues to expand its range of small holiday houses in Australia, offering city dwellers a chance to escape from a hectic, digitally-laden lifestyle.

It now has 12 houses placed across Victoria and has just added eight houses throughout NSW, including in the Hawkesbury, and at Braidwood and Picton.

The tiny-house concept embraces sustainable living by reducing the size and therefore the resource consumption, of homes without sacrificing quality of life.

The Tiny Away houses can sleep up to four people and include a convertible double sofa bed in the lounge area, a queen-size loft bed in the bedroom area, a kitchenette with toaster, kettle and induction cooktop, minimalist sliding table top which serves as a dining space, and a bathroom with a composting toilet and hot shower.

There is an air-conditioner and heater, as well as an outdoor deck providing additional space for relaxation.

The six-metre house is built and mounted on a trailer, allowing it to be moved from property to property, any time.

51-night fly/cruise/train package

Take in the wonders of Asia and the Middle East and then cruise through to Europe with MSC on a 51-night fly/stay/cruise package from Cruise1st.

Fly from Australia in February next year to Shanghai for two nights of accommodation and time to explore a fascinating city.

Then embark on MSC’s Splendida for a 44-night cruise from to Italy, taking in highlights that include Okinawa, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket, Colombo, Oman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the Suez Canal, Rhodes and Rome, before disembarking in Genoa for a one-night stay and catching a first-class train to Milan.

Three nights in Milan will give travellers a chance to explore this fashion, design, shopping and financial centre in Italy’s northern Lombardy region before catching a return flight to Australia.

Luxury at sea

One of the world’s most luxurious residences at sea will be perched on the deck 14 of the Seven Seas Splendor, above the bridge and overlooking the ship’s bow, when it sets sail in February next year.

Claimed to be the largest suite ever constructed on a luxury cruise ship, the Regent Suite offers 412 total square-metres of palatial elegance at sea, complete with an in-suite spa retreat featuring a personal sauna, steam room and treatment area with unlimited spa treatments, unobstructed 270-degree views over the ship’s bow from the 120 square-metre wrap-around veranda, and a glass-enclosed solarium on top of the bridge with a captain’s view of the world’s most beautiful destinations.

Guests in the Regent Suite also enjoy a dedicated personal butler, a personal car with driver and guide in every port, and the exquisite comfort of a custom, hand-crafted bed.

And I’m sure that you’ll pay plenty for the pleasure.

Island escape

Captain Cook Cruises Fiji have added a second daily departure for its Tivua Island day cruise and from April 1 the seven-hour adventure will depart Denarau Marina at 11.30am as well as 10am.

The 11.30am sailing offers the same inclusions as the 10am departure, including a tropical buffet lunch, all activities and the option to go diving or have a spa treatment.

Both Tivua Island day cruises are seven hours long and the same price —$153 for adults and $89 for children (3-15 years).

The Tivua Island experience begins the moment the magnificent tall ship Ra Marama or luxurious sleek sailing catamaran Fiji One set sail from Denarau for the tiny island of Tivua — an atoll surrounded by a circle of white sandy beach and 500 acres of coral gardens.

On arrival at Tivua guests take part in a traditional welcoming Kava ceremony and then spend the day doing a range of water and land activities or simply relaxing on the beach.